NL: WASHINGTON (63-77) at ATLANTA (71-69) <h3>Smoltz, Braves look to ride momentum of comeback win</h3> <div class="pre">Washington (62-77) at Atlanta (71-69) 7:35 pm EDT</div> ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves look to ride the momentumof an improbable comeback win as they open a three-game serieswith the Washington Nationals on Friday. The Braves trailed the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-2, entering theeighth inning on Wednesday, but scored seven times in the finaltwo frames to post a 9-8 win. Matt Diaz's three-run double withtwo outs in the ninth capped the amazing rally. Despite the remarkable comeback, Atlanta is still facing a majoruphill battle. The Braves trail the New York Mets (78-61) by 71/2 games in the National League East and are 5 1/2 gamesbehind the San Diego Padres (76-63) in the wild card. John Smoltz (12-7, 3.09 ERA) looks to help Atlanta beatWashington for the eighth time in 13 meetings this season. Thefuture Hall of Famer allowed three runs and nine hits in seveninnings of a 3-2 loss to New York on Sunday. Smoltz should rebound against the Nationals, as the righthanderis 19-11 with a 2.63 ERA in 38 career starts against thefranchise formerly known as the Montreal Expos. Smoltz has alsobeaten Cincinnati 19 times, which is the most wins he has overany team. This season, he is 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA vs.Washington. Rookie John Hanrahan (4-2, 5.14) gets the ball for theNationals, who have won five straight after completing athree-game sweep of the Florida Marlins on Wednesday. Hanrahanhas allowed three runs or less in all but one of his sevencareer starts.
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT ATLANTA -- LINEUPS WASHINGTON ATLANTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Nook Logan CF .271 0 20 Willie Harris LF .288 2 28 Felipe Lopez SS .246 9 48 Kelly Johnson 2B .290 15 65 Ryan Zimmerman 3B .270 22 82 Chipper Jones 3B .329 23 82 Dmitri Young 1B .330 13 72 Mark Teixeira 1B .302 10 32 Austin Kearns RF .269 13 58 Brian Mccann C .277 17 84 Wily Mo Pena LF .250 5 10 Jeff Francoeur RF .292 16 86 Ronnie Belliard 2B .278 8 42 Andruw Jones CF .225 24 84 Brian Schneider C .231 6 46 Yunel Escobar SS .326 3 24 Joel Hanrahan RHP .273 0 2 John Smoltz RHP .089 0 2 (4-2, 5.14) (12-7, 3.09)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA WARMUPS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN (4-2, 5.14) ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (12-7, 3.09) UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE 1B - BILL WELKE 2B - JIM REYNOLDS 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: 85 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 7 mph, right to left</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA -- REVISED WARMUPS WARMUPS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN (4-2, 5.14) ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (12-7, 3.09) UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE 1B - TIM WELKE 2B - JIM REYNOLDS 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: 85 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 7 mph, right to left</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA STARTING BATS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN AND BRIAN SCHNEIDER ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: N LOGAN (.271, 0 HR, 20 RBI) F LOPEZ (.246, 9 HR, 48 RBI) R ZIMMERMAN (.270, 22 HR, 82 RBI)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.288, 2 HR, 28 RBI) K JOHNSON (.290, 15 HR, 65 RBI) C JONES (.329, 23 HR, 82 RBI)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 R Belliard 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .089 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 0 -- 0 ATLANTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.14 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.07 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 1-0. Batters faced: J Smoltz 3. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.330, 13 HR, 72 RBI) A KEARNS (.269, 13 HR, 58 RBI) W PENA (.250, 5 HR, 10 RBI)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 R Belliard 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .089 Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 2 BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B McCann 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 0 -- 0 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.00 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.07 Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 22-12; J Smoltz 17-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 0-2; J Smoltz 1-0. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 5; J Smoltz 3. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.292, 16 HR, 86 RBI) A JONES (.225, 24 HR, 84 RBI) Y ESCOBAR (.326, 3 HR, 24 RBI)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269 W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246 R Belliard 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 6 0 0 0 1 5 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .089 Totals 4 0 1 0 1 1 2 BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B McCann 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 00 -- 0 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.00 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 3.06 Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 22-12; J Smoltz 38-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 0-2; J Smoltz 1-0. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 5; J Smoltz 7. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: B SCHNEIDER (.231, 6 HR, 46 RBI) J HANRAHAN (.273, 0 HR, 2 RBI) N LOGAN (.270, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269 W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246 R Belliard 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 6 0 0 0 1 5 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 J Francoeur rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .225 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .087 Totals 8 0 2 0 1 2 4 BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1, B McCann 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 00 -- 0 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 4.86 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 3.06 Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 38-24; J Smoltz 38-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 1-3; J Smoltz 1-0. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 9; J Smoltz 7. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.287, 0-FOR-1) K JOHNSON (.289, 0-FOR-1) C JONES (.330, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269 W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246 R Belliard 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 8 0 0 0 2 5 5 BATTING: S - J Hanrahan. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Lopez 1. Team LOB - 2. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 J Francoeur rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .225 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .087 Totals 8 0 2 0 1 2 4 BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1, B McCann 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 000 -- 0 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 4.86 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 3.04 Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 38-24; J Smoltz 48-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 1-3; J Smoltz 4-0. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 9; J Smoltz 11. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY CHIPPER JONES (24) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF JOEL HANRAHAN SCORED WILLIE HARRIS AND KELLY JOHNSON. CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 3 DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M TEIXEIRA (.302, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 3 3 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R ZIMMERMAN (.269, 0-FOR-1) D YOUNG (.330, 0-FOR-0, BB) A KEARNS (.269, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .245 R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 A Kearns rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269 W Pena lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246 R Belliard 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Totals 8 0 0 0 2 5 5 BATTING: S - J Hanrahan. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Lopez 1. Team LOB - 2. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287 K Johnson 2b 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .289 C Jones 3b 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .332 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300 B McCann c 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275 J Francoeur rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .293 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .225 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .087 Totals 12 3 3 3 3 3 4 BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). HR - C Jones (24, 3rd inning off J Hanrahan 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Jones 3 (85). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1, B McCann 1. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 000 -- 0 ATLANTA - 003 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 5.45 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 3.04 Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 62-38; J Smoltz 48-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 1-5; J Smoltz 4-0. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 15; J Smoltz 11. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 3 3 3 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.225, 0-FOR-1) Y ESCOBAR (.324, 0-FOR-1) J SMOLTZ (.087, 0-FOR-1)</div>
